Boston University is currently leading America East Conference's 2005-06 Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup standings after completion of the winter athletic season. The Commissioner's Cup annually recognizes the strongest athletic program in America East as determined by a scoring system, which rewards a school for success both during the regular season and at championship competition in the conference's 22 sports.
Currently, Boston University boasts 248 points to lead second-place Binghamton University with 235 points. University at Albany is third with 193 points, followed by University of Maine (189), University of New Hampshire (185), UMBC (184), Stony Brook University (153), University of Vermont (148) and University of Hartford (121).
This winter, the Terriers captured the Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship and earned runner-up status in women's basketball after advancing to the league title game as the No. 3 seed.
Binghamton University received the majority of its points from the men's and women's basketball championships as both Bearcat squads advanced to the conference semifinals. The men's swimming & diving team also earned a significant amount of points for finishing second at the annual league meet.
Albany swept this year's men's basketball regular-season and tournament championships for the first time in program history. The Great Danes' men's indoor track & field team captured the conference title, while the women's squad finished as runners-up.
The Maine men's basketball team finished the regular season in seventh place to lead the winter sport teams in points. The women's indoor track & field team also contributed to the Black Bears total.
New Hampshire captured the women's swimming & diving title to earn top points for the Wildcats. The men's and women's basketball teams both contributed to the point total through their final placements.
UMBC won this year's men's swimming & diving championship, while the women's swimming & diving and men's indoor track & field teams earned runner-up status as well.
Stony Brook women's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the championship and also achieved its first-ever postseason berth with a bid to the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Vermont finished as runner-up in the men's basketball championship as the No. 6 seed, earning the majority of the points for the Catamounts.
Hartford took home this year's women's basketball title and was also the regular-season champion. The Hawks also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
The Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is named in honor of the first commissioner of America East. Haskell served as commissioner of the conference from 1987 until his retirement in 1997.
The scoring system for the Stuart P. Haskell, Jr. Commissioner's Cup is as follows: In sports where regular-season round robin competition is conducted, the first-place institution in the final standings receives four points times the total number of teams involved in conference play. The second-place institution receives four less points; third place receives eight less points, and so on. Additionally, the America East (tournament) champion receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place receives four less points and so on down to the last-place institution which receives two points.
In sports where regular-season round robin competition is not conducted (cross country, golf, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving), the first-place institution at the America East championship receives two points times the total number of teams participating in the championship. The second-place institution receives two less points; third place gets four less points and so on down to the last place team which receives two points.